Improvement in window-shades and clothes-driers



y yZSheets--Shset 1. BENJAMINYG.. FTZHUGH.

Cmbined Window Shade and Clothes Dryer'.

No. HQ,97 i4 l Patemedom, 17,1321.

e r 2Sheets-f8heet2l BENJAMN G, FIT'ZHUGH.

CombinedW'indow Shade and Clothes Dryer. N0. 119,975. Patented 001,1?,187L

UNITED STATES PATENT GEEICE.

BENJAMIN G. FITZHUGH, OF FREDERICK, MARYLAND.

IMPROVEMENT IN WINDOW-SHADES AND CLOTHES-DRIERS..

Specication forming part of Letters Patent No. 119,975, dated October 17, 1871.

To all whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that I, BENJAMIN G. FITZHUGH, of the city and county of Frederick and State of Maryland, have invented a new and useful Improvement, being a Combined Window-Shade, Clothes-Drier and Horse, which I denominate the Glothes-Drier and VVindow-Shade, of which the following is a speciiication:

My invention relates to a combined windowshade, clothesdrier and horse; and the invention consists in the employment of a frame having a series of lines, and supported upon the sill of the window, extending upward and outward, and suspended by cords or a frame from the top of the window, the said lines being arranged double for the purpose of holding the clothes and securing them without pins, and in adapting the said frame as a support for an awning or shade and as a clothes-horse.

In the accompanying drawing, Figure l represents a view in perspective of a window-frame with my improvement attached thereto, and adapted as a clothes-drier. Fig. 2 represents a similar view, adapted as a shade. Fig. 3 represents a vertical section of the same, adapted as a clothes-drier, the dotted lines showing the position of the frame when drawn in to rill the lines. Fig. 4 represents a similar section, adapted as a clothes-horse, detached from the window, and Fig. 5 represents aplan of the frame and its endless double lines.

The clothes-drier consists of an oblong hinged frame, A A of a width just sufficient to iit within the frame B of the window to which it may be adapted and against the sill C thereof. It is provided with a suitable number of crosslines, a, arranged at proper distances apart, upon and between which the clothes are hung. The section A is supported in an upward and outward inclination by a similar section, A, extending from its outer end, and fastened by eyes c to pins c2 at the top of the window-frame, so as to be hooked and unhooked at pleasure to remove the frame. These sections A and A are hinged together so as to be folded and unfolded when desired. The lines a are continuous, extending Y from one end of the frame to the other in double cords, passing alternately through openings Z in the bars, whose outer sides are provided with grooves e to receive and protect the outer bends of the lines from wear. Ihe lines thus arranged in continuous double cords can be easily secured at each end of the frame so as to be tightened from time to time, and between these double cords the clothes are secured so as to be held by them without pins, which is a very great advantage in a window clothes-drier. The frame, thus arranged, is secured to the sill by a strap, j', hooked around the end of the lower section and into a pin, g, in the sill C, as shown in the drawing. In filling the frame with clothes this strap is unhooked, and the lower end of the frame is drawn into the room upon the sill with its outer end suspended by cords t' or by the upper see tion A, and as each line is filled the frame is pushed out until all the lines are thus hung with clothes, when its end is iitted in the recess of the sill (l and secured by the strap. To adapt the frame A for the purposes of a shade I unhinge and remove the upper section A from the section A and secure an awning or cover, D, to pins It at the outer end of said section A so as to extend therefrom and be secured to the pins c at the top of the window; and it may overlap and extend below the outer end of the frame A, as shown, thus forming a cheap and convenient shade for the window.

In applying the shade the fra-lne A is drawn in to hook the canvass over the pins thereof. This shade can be applied to the window and frame at any time, and easily removed therefrom so as to use a single or double-hinged clothes-drier. In adapting the frame as a clothes-horse it is detached from the window and supported upon its free ends like an inverted V, the sections being extended for that purpose; or it may be folded up and laid aside when not used.

In using the cover D it is not absolutely necessary to unhinge an d remove the upper section A from the part A, but it may be unhooked'from above the window, the cover attached and spread over it, and then again hooked into place.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

A combined window-shade and clothes-drier, consisting of the frame A and cords a and i (or the frames A A) and shade D, so constructed as to be used in a window-frame for either purpose, as described.

Witnesses: 4 B. G. FITZHUGH.

Rois'r. BAWN, D. L. WILE. (62) 

